History 1990s

1990 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1990 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Date: June 3–6, 1990

Start Location: Athens, Greece

Finish Location: Athens, Greece

Total Distance: 523.00 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1990 Acropolis Rally remained one of the toughest on the WRC calendar. Known for scorching heat, sharp rocks, and dust-choked trails, the rally punished both driver and machine. Carlos Sainz delivered a breakthrough performance, combining speed with mechanical sympathy to outlast the carnage. His victory marked the rise of Toyota’s growing challenge to Lancia dominance and helped pave the way to his first world title later that year.

Route

Mount Parnassus: High-altitude stages with brutal rock beds, heat haze, and scattered vegetation limiting visibility.
Lamia–Kalambaka Loop: Fast yet jagged gravel stretches that forced a balance between attack and car preservation.
Livadeia Area: Narrow canyon paths and loose stone climbs that punished poor line choice and suspension setups.

The rally wound through mountainous terrain and open plains, with long competitive sections and minimal margin for error:

Dust played a major role, and road order was a strategic factor—Sainz’s consistency and clean driving helped him capitalize as others fell victim to mechanical issues.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
3rd Place
Armin Schwarz & Klaus Wicha · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165

Sainz’s victory in Greece proved Toyota’s gravel pace had matured—beating Kankkunen and surviving the Acropolis meant the team had arrived as true title contenders.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Heat and Dust: Cabin temperatures soared, and dust clouds hung for minutes—making visibility and timing crucial.
  • Suspension Attrition: Rocks and heat destroyed shocks and struts—Toyota’s build quality gave Sainz the edge.
  • Mechanical Discipline: Sainz avoided risks that claimed rivals, proving that speed without survival meant nothing in Greece.

The 1990 Acropolis Rally marked a critical milestone in Sainz’s rise to WRC elite status—calculated, commanding, and cool-headed under the Greek sun.

← Previous Event 1990 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)
Back to Events Index
1990 Rally of New Zealand (New Zealand) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.